Summer's funeral was held a week later, shortly after Ruby was released from the hospital. Ozpin had Ruby's things delivered to Qrow's apartment in boxes, and Qrow had cleared out a room for her, but everything was still strange. They rode to the funeral in the rental car Ozpin had arranged for Qrow until he could get a replacement for his motorcycle.

"There might be some people you don't know in there." Qrow pulled into the church parking lot. "Your mom knew a lot of people."

She looked out the window, her hands still folded in her lap. She said nothing.

He turned off the car. "You don't have to talk to anyone if you don't want to."

Ruby nodded before she unbuckled her seat belt. Qrow got out and rounded the car and opened her door for her. When she got out, he slid his arm around her back.

He expected her to pull away like the first morning in her hospital room, but she didn't. She just looked at the ground and tugged at the sleeve of her black dress. The steps were damp from rain earlier that morning, but now the sun streamed through the clouds.

Summer would have wanted that, Qrow thought to himself as he led Ruby through the church doors. He led her up to the front pew, past all sorts of wandering and curious eyes, before sitting her down. The casket was closed, thank God. Qrow didn't know how he would if handled it if it hadn't been.

He looked over his shoulder, recognizing a few faces and stopping cold when he saw one in particular.

Tai Yang.

"Will you be okay here, kiddo?" he sat his hand on Ruby's shoulder and she looked up at him.

"You'll be back before it starts?"

He nodded. "Of course. I'll be right here with you."

"Okay." She pulled on her sleeve again.

He offered her a forced half smile before he turned to walk towards the back of the church to talk to Tai. He hadn't seen him in a long time; that was probably for a good reason.

Tai looked up as Qrow approached, his brow furrowing.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Dad, don't swear, we're in church." His daughter, Yang, poked him hard on the shoulder before glaring then looking up at Qrow, curiously. He hadn't seen her since she was younger, about two or three, but something in her eyes said that she remembered him, at least vaguely.

"Tai." This was worse than seeing Ruby again. Much worse. "Listen, I—"

"What are you doing here, Qrow?" Tai spat back. "You don't show your face for fourteen years, but now you're here."

"It's not like that—"

"It's exactly like that!"

Eyes began to peer over the backs of pews at the two of them.

"Please, can we talk outside?"

Tai rolled his eyes, but got up and followed Qrow out onto the steps of the church.

"What do you want to—"

"Look, Tai." Qrow still sounded defeated, like a dog with its tail between its legs. "I know you think I didn't care about Summer, and I know I'll never be able to make you understand that I did, but I never wanted this. Never wanted to be at her funeral. Never wanted her to die. I loved her. I still do."

"Why is Ruby with you?"

"Social worker called me. I'm Ruby's appointed legal guardian. "

"Just because you're her father doesn't mean you can take care of her."

Qrow looked at his feet at Tai quirked up an eyebrow.

"She doesn't know, does she?"

Qrow shook his head. "It's temporary right now, but—"

"Temporary?"

"It's what I guess you could call a probationary period."

Tai rolled his eyes. "You know plenty about that, don't you Qrow?"

Qrow glared, clenching his fists at his sides, but didn't do anything. He hadn't had a drink in two days—it was making him more irritable than usual. His flask was hanging heavy, empty, in his pocket.

"It's what Summer wanted."

"But is it what Ruby would want?" Tai glared. "You barely know her. Have you even spoken to her, save for this past week, since she was a baby?"

Qrow opened his mouth to respond, but promptly shut it. Tai was right. He barely her.

"Is there a problem here?"

Qrow snapped himself back into focus only to find Officer Ironwood standing at Tai's side.

"No." Tai shook his head. "We were just horsing around."

"Kind of an odd place for that, don't you think?" Officer Ironwood turned to look at Qrow and he felt his stomach shrink. It was no secret that the police officer hated him. Absolutely no secret. But what was he doing here?

"We were just headed back inside." Qrow uncurled his fists, fingers shaking.

"I see." Ironwood looked between the two of them. "Then I suppose I'll see you gentleman inside."

He brushed past them and the church doors swung closed.

Tai looked at Qrow's hands and sighed. "You're not drinking again, are you?"

"I'm trying to stop." Qrow pulled his hands closer to his body. "I haven't had a sip in two days."

"Wow, Qrow." The sarcasm in Tai's voice was heavy. "Two whole days."

"I'm doing it for Ruby." Qrow glared up at his former friend. "I'm trying."

"Try harder. Ruby doesn't need to lose another parent; it doesn't matter if she knows or not. She'll figure it out sooner or later. She's smart." Tai brushed past Qrow to head into the church. Qrow followed before making his way to the front pew and sitting down next to Ruby.

"Why were you talking to Uncle Tai?"

She calls him uncle Tai.

"Just catching up a little."

Ruby looked up at him and offered a sad smile before going back to the sleeve of her dress.

"I can help you get your room set up tonight if you want."

Ruby looked up at him before offering a smaller, but more genuine smile than before.

"I think that's a good idea."